Tag: faith

Christian

“Never Give Up: A Lesson From Elijah

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 5/28/26

Have you ever felt like giving up? Did you ever feel like you had all you could take? I felt like that once when the Bible Study I attended started using a popular new book written by a false teacher.

I started searching the websites of other local churches. When I checked the Women’s Ministries tab, guess what? I couldn’t find a Women’s Bible Study that was actually studying the Bible itself. That’s when I felt like giving up.

Then, God reminded me of Elijah’s troubles with Ahab and Jezebel, who were killing all of God’s prophets. You can read about it in 1 Kings 19. Elijah told the Lord,

“I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah thought he was the only prophet left who had not bowed his knee to pagan idols.

Feeling all alone in your misery is very hard. There is no one to talk to and no one to encourage you. But the situation wasn’t as bad as Elijah thought. God said,

“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (vs. 18)

Not only that, but Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves and provided them with food. (1 Kings 18:4) Elijah was not alone in his faithfulness to God!

Maybe my situation isn’t that bad after all. No one is trying to kill me! Maybe your situation isn’t that bad after all, either!

When you’re discouraged, remember: You don’t know everything God is doing. You have a limited perspective. God is working all the time, and He will always accomplish His will.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Is Satan Really Around?

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 5/27

“Because we too often walk by sight and not by faith — thinking we can live our Christian lives by some sort of spiritual inertia — we fall into Satan’s trap of thinking he’s not really there, or at least as if he’s not very active. It does seem, after all, to be a much more pleasant thought to believe that he’s not around or, at least, that we’re really not a significant enough target for him to spend his time on.”

Burk Parsons, Pastor, Sanford, Florida

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Ahmed Galal on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Eve and the Snake

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Tuesday, 5/26/26

The worst insult you can give someone is to call them a snake. In slang, a snake is a backstabber who acts friendly to your face but undermines you behind your back. He is treacherous, deceitful, and manipulative.

The biggest snake of all time is Satan. He is a sneaky, silver-tongued liar. He hasn’t changed his schemes since he tricked Eve into taking a bite of the apple.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:1-6 NIV Read full chapter

The Hebrew word Ārûm, translated as crafty in verse 1, means shrewd, cunning, crafty. It suggests a high level of intelligence, cleverness, or subtlety. It highlights the serpent’s deceptive cunning.

Notice what the snake does and how he tricks her. He makes her think that what he’s tempting her to do isn’t a sin and, in fact, it will be beneficial for her. I would guess she probably wanted that to be true, and so she is easy to trick. (People are often tricked into believing a lie because they want it to be true.)

My advice: Don’t listen to the snake. Don’t be deceived.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

The Lord Opened Her Heart

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 5/24/26

The Apostle Paul and his companions traveled to Philippi and stayed there several days. On the Sabbath, they went looking for a place of prayer by the river. They began to speak to the women there about Jesus.

“One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:14-15 NIV

It wasn’t Paul’s preaching alone that convinced her to believe. The Lord Himself opened her heart!

Pray that God will open the hearts of those you know who have not believed the Gospel. Then share the Good News!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Dillon Groves on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Understanding Self-Control: A Reflection

Cindy Dawson

Reflection for Friday, 5/22/26

“He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control], But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].” Proverbs 14:29 AMP

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Redemption: Lessons from Ruth

Cindy Dawson

1-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 5/21/26

The Book of Ruth is a deeply moving account of love and redemption. You will see God’s tender care for women as He eases the burdens of two homeless widows. In his generous redemptive actions, Boaz becomes a forerunner of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

“The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” Isaiah 54:5 NIV

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians 1:7 NIV

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

Although only 4 chapters long, the Book of Ruth has long been recognized as a literary masterpiece. Read it now, and you will see why.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Kingdom Bloggers on Google

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Millennials Want More Truth

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Wednesday, 5/20/26

“Here in California, we see interest on the part of millennials and younger for the Bible and for truth,” the pastor said. “Most of the time, we see statistics about how people are leaving the Church, but in many respects, young people are demanding more truth, more teaching, and less entertainment. They’re not interested in shallow expressions of religion.” 

Pastor David Jeremiah

“Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Truth delivers people from the bondage of sin and deception.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Why Study End Time Prophecy?

Cindy Dawson

Reflection for Tuesday, 5//19/26

“The Bible reveals details about the last days to alleviate the stress of wondering what is coming and to prepare us so that we will be ready. Because we should be familiar with our Bibles, God expects us to know what His Word says about future events.”

Jack Hibbs, from his book, Living in the Daze of Deception

Jesus said, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matthew 24:42-44 NASB (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Does God Remember My Sins?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Sunday, 5/17/26

I spoke to a Christian friend who expressed concern about the punishment she might receive for her past sins.

But does God punish those whom Christ has redeemed? Let’s examine the Scriptures that answer that question.

“Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:7 NIV

Jesus said, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37b NIV

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV

Do these Scriptures apply even though I have committed terrible sins? What if I had an abortion? What if I killed someone? What if I committed adultery? What if I engaged in homosexual acts? Will God forgive these sins?

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NLT

“So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely erased]” Acts 3:19 AMP (emphasis mine)

“… as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 NIV

“And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].” Hebrews 10:17 AMP

Let God’s Word answer your questions. He wants you to know how great is His mercy and love!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Do Christians Today Have Idols?

Cindy Dawson

 “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.  He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.” 1 Kings 11: 3-6

Notice that Solomon started doing what “everyone else” was doing. He may have thought, “All the other kings have lots of wives and concubines. All the other kings have idols. I’m just doing what all the other kings do. Things are different now from when my father was king.”

We can do the same thing today by accepting what the world puts forth as truth rather than holding on to God’s Word, which is the only reliable source of real Truth.

Ashtoreth was the pagan goddess of war and sexual love. How is that any different from the practice of sexual sin found in today’s world?

Molek was an Ammonite god who required propitiatory child sacrifice. A couple sacrificed their firstborn by burning the child on a metal idol of Molech. How is that any different from abortion, which is really all about freedom to engage in sexual sin without consequence?

In today’s society, sexual sin and abortion are not only acceptable behaviors but also normalized through social media, television, and movies.

According to Guttmacher, 1,125,930 babies were murdered by clinicians in the United States in 2025 alone.

And there are more than 20 million estimated new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States each year — and rates are increasing. (Satterwhite, C.L. et al. 2013)

Idol worship doesn’t just refer to a pagan statue. The Apostle Paul tells us more.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” Colossians 3:5-6

“Idolatry starts in the heart: craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God. That is an idol. If we find God to be so boring or so negligible that we must put other things in his place that really satisfy us more than He does, then we not only offend him, but we also destroy ourselves.”

John Piper

“…yet I am glad now, not because you were hurt and made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance [and you turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel … For [godly] sorrow that is in accord with the will of God produces a repentance without regret…” 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 AMP

Any number of things could become an idol. Ask the Lord with a sincere heart to show you if you have any idols. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction, but not condemnation. Conviction makes you want to change, but condemnation makes you want to give up.

“Since the fall, the hearts of humans have been inclined toward idolatry.”

Dr. Jeff Reynolds, Pastor

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6 NASB

Featured image from Nick Fancher on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog